
Seven local high school students earned national recognition at the Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. (FBLA) National Leadership Conference in Orlando held June 29-July 2.
The event attracted over 17,000 middle school, high school and college students, teachers, volunteers and exhibitors from across the country. according to an Alachua County Public Schools release.
The FBLA is a nonprofit education association aiming to prepare middle school and high school students for futures in business through career and leadership experiences. The annual National Leadership Conference is an opportunity for students to showcase the skills and knowledge they’ve learned in the classroom over the previous academic year.
Awards achieved by students are part of a comprehensive national competitive events program sponsored by FBLA-PBL that recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas.
Of the 17 students in attendance from the Academy of Finance at Buchholz High School (BHS), Professional Academies Magnet at Loften High School (PAM@Loften) and Eastside High School, seven won national awards.
Here is a list of the students who earned awards:
- Michael Wei (BHS) took first place in Introduction to Financial Math, winning a trophy and cash award.
- Adrian Palamarev (BHS) earned the second-place trophy and cash award in Business Calculations.
- Fifth-place winners included Anish Patel (BHS) in Introduction to Financial Math and Brooklyn Hilman (PAM@Loften) for Healthcare Administration.
- Keith Zheng (BHS) earned seventh-place honors for Digital Animation.
- Alexander Hughes (BHS) placed seventh in Introduction to Business Procedures.
- West Gila (BHS) took eighth place in Agribusiness.
“The 17 students that attended the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference made me very proud for their dedication and commitment to have made it to this level,” said FBLA District 6 Adviser and Buchholz Academy of Finance Director Michele Brothers in the release. “Then for seven to earn top honors shows the District 6 FBLA group representing Alachua County Public Schools is a dream to work with.”
In addition to competitions, students participated in workshops and heard from motivational speakers on a broad range of business topics. Students also met with representatives from more than 100 colleges, universities and businesses.